Box 8500, charlotte, nc 28271 phone 704 8878200 and fax 704 8878299 1 statement dc625 a history of god. At a swift glance, the title of karen armstrongs new book the subtitle is in very small print might mislead the casual observer into thinking that she has written a case for the existence of god. George pitcher agress with karen armstrongs argument in the case for god that we often look for religion in the wrong place. Karen armstrong, a comparative religion specialist is the author of numerous books on religion, including the case for god, a history of god, the battle for god, holy war, islam, buddha, and fields of blood, as well as a memoir, the spiral staircase.
In 2008 she was awarded the ted prize and began working with ted on the charter for compassion, created online by the general. She attended st annes college, oxford, while in the convent and majored in english. It is rather a case for god, not the existence of god. All quiet on the god front philosophy books the guardian. Sep 21, 2009 karen armstrong builds a case for god in her new book the case for god, the author a former nun argues that religion is a practical discipline that can teach us to discover new. Karen armstrong is the author of numerous books on religion, including fields of blood, a history of god, the battle for god, holy war, islam, buddha, and fields of bloos, as well as a memoir, the spiral staircase. I have made this summary for my own personal use and it neither claims to be objective nor complete. It takes a much more detached and scholarly viewpoint, and could function as a history or survey of how people think about god. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. The case for god is a 2009 book by karen armstrong. To prove that point, the case for god begins way back at the dawn of civilization, examining the sacred implications of cave paintings in europe, and follows the divine thread. Karen armstrong, obe, frsl born 14 november 1944 is a british author and commentator of irish catholic descent known for her books on comparative religion. Today in the west, it is often assumed that religion is all about the supernatural and that it is inseparable from belief in an external, personalised deity. The case for god is characteristic of armstrong s approach.
Karen armstrong frsl born 14 november 1944 is a british author and commentator known for her books on comparative religion. Religion and the history of violence suddenly and tragically very urgent. For armstrong, herself a catholic nun and atheist at different points in her life, god is a symbol, not an omnipotent ruler. The case for god karen armstrong pdf karen armstrong. What religion really means first paperback edition by armstrong, karen isbn. She then applies this to all foundational religions, particularly monotheism. A powerful voice for ecumenical understanding, karen armstrong is the author of many acclaimed books on religious affairs, including a history of god and the battle for god. A history of god is the first of three of armstrong s books with the word god in the title. In 1982, she became a full time writer and broadcaster. It details the history of the three major monotheistic traditions.
She left her order and is now a highly acclaimed writer and spokesperson on religious issues with at least 15 books to her name. It covers the history of religion, from the paleolithic age to the present day, with a focus on the three abrahamic religions. The case for god kindle edition by armstrong, karen. The evolution of the idea of god is traced from its ancient roots in the middle east up to the present day. Oct 02, 2009 karen armstrong s the case for god is written not so much against the recent spate of books promoting atheism as with those books very much in mind. Black theologians asked how white people felt able to affirm freedom through gods death when they had enslaved. Writing with the broad perspective and deep understanding pdf of human spirituality that won huge audiences for a history of god, armstrong illuminates the spread of militant piety as a phenomenon peculiar. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read the case for god. She is a bestselling author of over 16 books on religious affairs, including a history of god, twelve steps to a compassionate life, the case for god, and the great transformation, as well as a memoir, the spiral. It is an answer to the recent claims that god does not exist from richard dawkins, christopher hitchens.
In over five hundred pages karen armstrong, once a nun and the respected author of bestsellers like a history of god and the case for god, answers the question whether religion is the principal cause of violence. Sep 22, 2009 the case for god ebook written by karen armstrong. We see the west in the sixteenth century beginning to create an entirely new kind of civilization, which brought in its wake change in every aspect of life often painful and. Aug 01, 2009 indeed, the case for god is an antithesis to, even a thinly veiled attack on, dawkinss best shot, the god delusion. The case for god examines the diminished impulse toward religion in. Karen armstrong was a roman catholic nun for seven years before she found she could no longer believe catholic doctrines. Her work has been translated into fortyfive languages. Karen armstrong takes the reader through a history of religious practice in many different cultures, arguing that in the good old days and purest. The content, though, is fascinating, and worth the effort. A history of god is a bestselling book by karen armstrong. In her new book the case for god, the author a former nun argues that religion is a practical discipline that can teach us to discover new.
The case for god, by karen armstrong the globe and mail. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the case for god. Religious and nonreligious people alike often share the same misperceptions. A history of god karen armstrong deur babs basson op 01 mei 20 karen armstrong a history of god vintage 1999, random house. Karen armstrong is required reading on the syllabus of many courses in both seminaries and religious studies departments in universities. The enormous popularity of books by richard dawkins, christopher hitchens, sam harris and others shows that despite the religious revival that is under way in many parts of the world, there is widespread confusion about the nature of religious truth. The case for god by karen armstrong, 9781410421531, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. Recipient of the 2008 ted prize, she has participated in the world economic forum, and is currently an ambassador for the u. The battle for god by karen armstrong free book pdf. Critics claim that religion encourages escapist fantasies that cannot be verified. It is useful to know before reading this book that it is not a tract attempting to prove the existence of god. Moving from the paleolithic age to the present, karen armstrong details the great lengths to which humankind has gone in order to experience a sacred reality that it called by many names, such as god, brahman, nirvana, allah, or dao. She argues that ancient explanations of reality were understood by those who created them to be mythological. The time, in other words, is ripe for a book like the case for god, which wraps a rebuke to the more militant sort of atheism in an engaging survey of western religious thought.
Her work has been translated into 45 languages in 2008 she was awarded the ted prize and began working with ted on the charter. Karen armstrong, a former nun, wants to rescue the idea of the deity from its cultured despisers and its more literalminded adherents alike. She is the author of numerous books on religion, including the case for god, a history of god, the battle for god, holy war, islam, buddha, and the great transformation, as well as a memoir, the spiral staircase. Judaism, christianity and islam, and on apophatic theology in. A history of god by karen armstrong the new christian west during the middle ages introduction as a child, i had a number of strong religious beliefs but little faith in god. Armstrong definitely has a point of view, specifically a leaning towards a mystical rather than literal understanding of god and a strong dislike of fundamentalism, but i still felt like she was including a fair range of facts. Jan 01, 2001 the case for god by karen armstrong sounds like a religious apologetic or polemic tract, but it is not that at all.
Well, the idea of god as a supreme being means that he is simply like us, writ large, and just bigger and better, the end product of the series. I recently picked up karen armstrongs the case for god and i must say that i find it quite impressive. Black theologians asked how white people felt able to affirm freedom through god s death when they had enslaved. Sep 22, 2009 karen armstrong is the author of numerous books on religion, including fields of blood, a history of god, the battle for god, holy war, islam, buddha, and fields of bloos, as well as a memoir, the spiral staircase. Karen armstrong provides a thorough and compelling resource toward this kind of understanding in her book the case for god. Fascinating journey through western civilizations ongoing attempts to understand and explain the concept of god. Jun 25, 2014 the history of godkaren armstrong free pdf. There is a distinction between belief in a set of propositions and a faith which enables us to put our trust in them.
My perspective on religion has been influenced by the dissenting tradition and armstrong s leaning towards mysticism makes me wonder whether she really understands what religion actually means. Lisa miller, newsweek the case for god is armstrongs most concise. Karen armstrong is the author of numerous books on religion, including the case for god, a history of god, the battle for god, holy war, islam, buddha, and fields of blood, as well as a memoir, the spiral staircase. The case for god by karen armstrong john loftus tells us what various fundamentalists get wrong. This is the fascinating, disturbing question that bestselling author karen armstrong addresses in her brilliant new book the battle for god. The case for god by karen armstrong religion, god, and. The typeface and the starburst on the cover of armstrongs book mimic the. Moving from the paleolithic age to the present, karen armstrong details the great lengths to which humankind has gone in order to experience a sacred reality that. Ill post a partial excerpt of her epilogue just so you will have a taste and a partial summary of some of the ideas and history of religion that she examines in the. Troy jollimore on karen armstrongs the case for god. Karen armstrongs case for god i recently picked up karen armstrongs the case for god and i must say that i find it quite impressive.
Focusing especially on christianity but including judaism, islam, buddhism, hinduism, and chinese spiritualities, armstrong examines the diminished impulse. Karen armstrong, acclaimed author and religious scholar, speaks at st pauls cathedral on the topic of her book the case for god as part of. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Myths were translated into facts by later commentators. The terrorist attacks in paris rendered her new book fields of blood. Indeed there are many moments in the case for god when armstrong seems to drift away from apophaticism and into a deeply subjectivist view of religious truth, which holds that true religious. Karen armstrong the case for god episode free library. Karen armstrong builds a case for god in her new book the case for god, the author a former nun argues that religion is a practical discipline that can teach us to discover new. But the journey was fascinating and i could not put the book down. Karen armstrong free pdfa history of god is a bestselling book by karen armstrong. The lost art of scripture c download by karen armstrong. The 4000 year quest of judaism, christianity, and islam karen armstrong. It is by far the best case ive seen as to how religious belief and practice can be reasonable. The time is ripe for a book like the case for god, which wraps a rebuke to the more militant sort of atheism in an engaging survey of.
All content included on our site, such as text, images, digital downloads and other, is the property of its content suppliers and protected by us and international laws. In 2008 she was awarded the ted prize and began working with ted on the charter for compassion, created online by the general public. Ultimately, armstrong doesnt really make a case for god, she simply looks at the cases into which god has been placed by the limitations of human reason. Jul 03, 2009 karen armstrong takes the reader through a history of religious practice in many different cultures, arguing that in the good old days and purest forms they all come to much the same thing. After i finished it, i felt inspired, i stopped, and i looked up at the stars again.
The case for god attempts to cut pop atheists such as richard dawkins and christopher hitchens off at the pass, exposing their attack on fundamentalist religion, particularly christianity, as a wild goose chase. The case for god karen armstrong on free shipping on qualifying offers. The case for god by karen armstrong i still havent completed her whole book yet op but i was intrigued by her explanation of how the modern world has lost sight of orthopraxy. The enormous popularity of books by richard dawkins, christopher hitchens, sam harris and others shows that despite the religious revival that is under way in many parts of the world, there. In this astounding book, prolific author karen armstrong has written an intellectual history of the notion of god, focusing on western christian conceptions. Fundamentalism in judaism, christianity and islam is a book by author karen armstrong published in 2000 by knopfharpercollins which the new york times described as one of the most penetrating, readable, and prescient accounts to date of the rise of the fundamentalist movements in judaism, christianity, and islam. Over 700,000 copies of the original hardcover and paperback editions of this stunningly popular book have been sold.
The case for god by karen armstrong, 9780099524038, download free ebooks, download free pdf epub ebook. Oct 04, 2009 the time, in other words, is ripe for a book like the case for god, which wraps a rebuke to the more militant sort of atheism in an engaging survey of western religious thought. The time is ripe for a book like the case for god, which wraps a rebuke to the more militant sort of atheism in an engaging survey of western religious thought. Karen armstrongs the case for god is written not so much against the recent spate of books promoting atheism as with those books very much in. She does focus on the monotheistic religions, and does not in the end, make a case for god.
In the battle for god, karen armstrong brilliantly and sympathetically shows us how and why fundamentalist groups came into existence and what they yearn to accomplish. The case for god by karen armstrong sounds like a religious apologetic or polemic tract, but it is not that at all. Karen armstrong, author, scholar, and journalist, is among the worlds foremost commentators on religious history and culture. Also included in the book are buddhism and hinduism. Karen armstrong takes the reader through a history of religious practice in many different cultures, arguing that in the good old days and purest forms they all come to much the same thing. The battle for god traces the history of the rise of. The case for god by karen armstrong issue 81 philosophy now. Indeed, the case for god is an antithesis to, even a thinly veiled attack on, dawkinss best shot, the god delusion. Coming from a selfcritical christian background karen armstrong presents a history of human spirituality and religion, from ancient times to 911. A former roman catholic religious sister, she went from a conservative to a more liberal and mystical christian faith.
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